Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study
Introduction: Physician emigration (the 'brain drain') and sociopolitical unrest significantly contribute to the instability of many low- and middle-income countries’ healthcare systems. However, limited literature captures the 'locally driven' and 'context specific' su...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Annals of Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/4025 |
| _version_ | 1797868013223936000 |
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| author | Tega Ebeye HaEun Lee Abi Sriharan |
| author_facet | Tega Ebeye HaEun Lee Abi Sriharan |
| author_sort | Tega Ebeye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Physician emigration (the 'brain drain') and sociopolitical unrest significantly contribute to the instability of many low- and middle-income countries’ healthcare systems. However, limited literature captures the 'locally driven' and 'context specific' suggestions to promote and sustain these health systems’ resilience. Thus, the purpose of this study is to 1) understand the effects of physician emigration and sociopolitical unrest on Nigeria’s healthcare system, and to 2) synthesize solutions suggested by Nigeria-trained physicians in the form of a resilience framework. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among Nigeria-trained physicians. Respondents were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods via a 'WhatsApp' group for Nigeria-trained doctors. Quantitative data were analyzed using 'Stata 17' and qualitative themes were coded by two independent researchers. Results: The final sample included 49 Nigeria-trained physicians—35 physicians practicing in Nigeria and 14 emigrated physicians. All of the physicians currently practicing in Nigeria have considered emigrating, with 79% of them having concrete plans to emigrate in the next five years. Among emigrated physicians, factors such as remuneration (92%) and socioeconomic state of the country (92%) contributed to their decision to emigrate. Suggestions to enhance health system resilience fell into six broad themes: 1) policy and politics, 2) funding and resources, 3) organization and structure, 4) training and education, 5) research and primary health, and 6) health for peace initiatives. Conclusions: The healthcare system is currently unstable and vulnerable due to physician emigration and sociopolitical unrest. To develop and implement solutions to mitigate these issues, capturing the locally trained physicians’ perspectives are critical. While each country’s healthcare system is unique, countries with similar strains can adapt this model for resilience building. Future studies should focus on adapting the model in different countries with policy-level action points. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:50:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91d4f862ac0d4fcc88c5965560fe8f78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-9996 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:50:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-91d4f862ac0d4fcc88c5965560fe8f782023-03-17T12:33:44ZengUbiquity PressAnnals of Global Health2214-99962023-02-0189110.5334/aogh.40252830Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based StudyTega Ebeye0HaEun Lee1Abi Sriharan2University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto; University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, TorontoUniversity of Michigan, Center for Global Health Equity, Ann Arbor, MichiganUniversity of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, TorontoIntroduction: Physician emigration (the 'brain drain') and sociopolitical unrest significantly contribute to the instability of many low- and middle-income countries’ healthcare systems. However, limited literature captures the 'locally driven' and 'context specific' suggestions to promote and sustain these health systems’ resilience. Thus, the purpose of this study is to 1) understand the effects of physician emigration and sociopolitical unrest on Nigeria’s healthcare system, and to 2) synthesize solutions suggested by Nigeria-trained physicians in the form of a resilience framework. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among Nigeria-trained physicians. Respondents were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods via a 'WhatsApp' group for Nigeria-trained doctors. Quantitative data were analyzed using 'Stata 17' and qualitative themes were coded by two independent researchers. Results: The final sample included 49 Nigeria-trained physicians—35 physicians practicing in Nigeria and 14 emigrated physicians. All of the physicians currently practicing in Nigeria have considered emigrating, with 79% of them having concrete plans to emigrate in the next five years. Among emigrated physicians, factors such as remuneration (92%) and socioeconomic state of the country (92%) contributed to their decision to emigrate. Suggestions to enhance health system resilience fell into six broad themes: 1) policy and politics, 2) funding and resources, 3) organization and structure, 4) training and education, 5) research and primary health, and 6) health for peace initiatives. Conclusions: The healthcare system is currently unstable and vulnerable due to physician emigration and sociopolitical unrest. To develop and implement solutions to mitigate these issues, capturing the locally trained physicians’ perspectives are critical. While each country’s healthcare system is unique, countries with similar strains can adapt this model for resilience building. Future studies should focus on adapting the model in different countries with policy-level action points.https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/4025resilienceemigrationbrain drainhuman resources for healthsociopolitical unrest |
| spellingShingle | Tega Ebeye HaEun Lee Abi Sriharan Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study Annals of Global Health resilience emigration brain drain human resources for health sociopolitical unrest |
| title | Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study |
| title_full | Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study |
| title_fullStr | Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study |
| title_short | Physician-Suggested Innovative Methods for Health System Resilience amidst Workforce Emigration and Sociopolitical Unrest in Nigeria: A Survey-Based Study |
| title_sort | physician suggested innovative methods for health system resilience amidst workforce emigration and sociopolitical unrest in nigeria a survey based study |
| topic | resilience emigration brain drain human resources for health sociopolitical unrest |
| url | https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/4025 |
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